{"id":64299,"date":"2026-01-08T05:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=64299"},"modified":"2026-01-08T14:40:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:40:42","slug":"morse-first-look-at-a-2026-patriots-mock-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2026\/01\/08\/morse-first-look-at-a-2026-patriots-mock-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: First Look at a 2026 Patriots Mock Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite being in the playoffs, April’s NFL Draft will likely come quicker than most of us expect.\u00a0 This is my 1<\/span>st<\/span> attempt at a Mock Draft for the Patriots.\u00a0 The final draft order will not be determined until after the Super Bowl, but PFF has projected the Patriots with the #30 draft pick.\u00a0 I utilized Pro Football Focus Draft Simulator.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a weak Draft in my opinion.\u00a0 Early Draft Grades of players indicated there are only 11 players with 1<\/span>st<\/span> round grades.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be surprised if the Patriots trade their 1<\/span>st<\/span> round pick for a known commodity in an established NFL player.<\/span><\/p>\n

I tried to address draft needs while taking the best available player.\u00a0 Overall, I am not impressed with this draft class.\u00a0 For instance, linebacker is a big need for the Patriots, but I don\u2019t select any because I just don\u2019t think they are good enough to be drafted.\u00a0 In this case, I take players at other positions rather than take a player at a position of need who didn\u2019t deserve to be selected at that point in the draft.\u00a0 The Pats will need to look to Free Agency to fill the linebacker position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I can tell you from past experience that players I select this early usually move up in the draft and are selected higher than PFF has them ranked at this point.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1-30 – Joshua Josephs Edge<\/b> \u2013 Tennessee \u2013 6\u20193\u201d, 240 pounds, 4.68e 40-yard dash.\u00a0 His position versatility and consistent play in the very tough SEC are what stick out about Josephs.\u00a0 His PFF Grade in 2024 was 90.6, and in 2025 it was 87.7.\u00a0 In 2024, he had 3 Forced Fumbles, and he matched that in 2025.\u00a0 The only drawback is that he had just 4 sacks in 2025, although he pressured the QB often.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2-62 TRADE<\/b> – The PFF Software indicated that Pittsburgh wanted this pick. I just worked it to the point that it was acceptable in the software.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think this trade would ever happen in the real NFL.\u00a0 Pittsburgh gives up 3-78, 3-98, and 5-176.\u00a0 This sees them dropping back 16 spots, while collecting two additional draft picks.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t like any of the players in this spot.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3-78 \u2013 Eli Stowers TE<\/b> \u2013 Vanderbilt \u2013 The 6\u20194\u201d, 235-pound TE is more of a pass-catching, move TE.\u00a0 Don\u2019t expect him to be an inline blocker.\u00a0 He has 4.55 speed, which is excellent for TE.\u00a0 In 2025, he had 62 catches for 769 yards and 4 TDs, which led him to be selected All-SEC 1st Team.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3-94 Keionte Scott CB <\/b>– Miami \u2013 The 5\u201911\u201d, 195-pound DB ran a 4.39 40.\u00a0 He was selected as 2<\/span>nd<\/span> team All-ACC DB.\u00a0 His PFF grade was 90.7 after transferring from Auburn.\u00a0 In 25, he had 44 Tackles, 10 TFLs, 3 sacks, 5 PBUs, 1 INT, and 6 QB Hits.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3-98 Zakee Wheatley S<\/b> \u2013 Penn State – The team that drafts Wheatley gets a versatile defensive back who can play strong or free, drop into the slot in dime packages, and occasionally roll down as a robber. He’s already shown the mental toughness to handle big stages.\u00a0 He stands 6\u20192\u201d, 200 pounds, and runs a 4.4 40-yard dash.\u00a0 In 2024 he had 96 Tackles, 3 INT, 1 FF in 16 starts.\u00a0 He followed that up with 74 Tackles, 1 INT in 2025.\u00a0 In a bowl game last year, he had 15 Tackles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4-109 Akeem Mesidor Edge<\/b> \u2013 University of Miami \u2013 6\u20193\u201d, 280-pound. 4.9 40-yard dash. \u00a0 Six-year college career after missing most of the 2023 season and being granted a COVID year.\u00a0 He had 15.5 sacks this year, after having 10.5 as a Junior at Miami in 2022.\u00a0 His 2024 season wasn\u2019t bad either, with 9 sacks.\u00a0 He specializes in pass rushing from the DT position.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4-130 Max Iheanacor\u00a0 Right Tackle<\/b> \u2013 Arizona \u2013 6\u20196\u201d 330-pound Tackle.\u00a0 A massive O lineman.\u00a0 A former soccer player who grew up and turned to basketball in High School.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until 2021, when he first put on the pads at a Community College.\u00a0 He spent 3 years at Arizona.\u00a0 He is raw and needs experience.\u00a0 A few years with experienced NFL coaches and perhaps playing behind Morgan Moses, they might have a diamond in the rough.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5-169 \u2013 Trinidad Chambliss QB<\/b> \u2013 Mississippi \u2013 Chambliss has petitioned the NCAA for a 7<\/span>th<\/span> year of eligibility.\u00a0 The 6\u20191\u201d, 200-pound QB played three years at D II Ferris State, leading them to the National Championship.\u00a0 Can they convince him to give up playing QB?\u00a0 He threw for 3,016 yards and 18 TDs in 2025.\u00a0 He also ran for 70 yards and 6 TDs.\u00a0 I thought I was watching Pat Mahomes.\u00a0 His ability to throw deep and accurately on the move is incredible.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5-176 Lee Hunter DT<\/b> \u2013 Texas Tech \u2013 The 6\u20194\u201d 325 run stuffer led all FBS DTs with 69 Tackles at UCF.\u00a0 Transferred to Texas Tech and made 2<\/span>nd<\/span> team All-Conference in 2024 and 1<\/span>st<\/span> team All-Conference in 2025.\u00a0 \u00a0 Nicknamed \u201cThe Fridge\u201d because of the area that he takes up.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6-208 Pat Coogan Center \/ Left Guard<\/b> – Indiana \u2013 6\u20195\u201d 310-pounds.\u00a0 Played Left Guard at Notre Dame next to Joe Alt. \u00a0 Coogan has 40+ starts, 13 at Left Guard and 27 at Center.\u00a0 Indiana is still playing in the college playoffs.\u00a0 Coogan was selected as the Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game in Indiana\u2019s 38-3 playoff domination over Alabama.\u00a0 Coogan was also selected as 2<\/span>nd<\/span> Team All-Big 10.\u00a0 His ability to play both positions is a big plus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>7-221 Brett Thorson Punter<\/b>– Georgia \u2013 It\u2019s time to replace Bryce Barinnger. Thorson was the top College punter who was selected for multi-awards including the Ray Guy award for the top punter and multiple All-American awards.\u00a0 If the Patriots want him, they may have to take him with a 6<\/span>th<\/span> round pick.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7-243 Taylen Green QB\/WR<\/strong> \u2013 Arkansas \u2013 he stands 6\u20196\u201d, 225 pounds, and runs a 4.44 40-yard dash.\u00a0 I want to see him at WR and work with Mack Hollins to learn the position.\u00a0 I know he has a cannon for an arm and is very good at the deep pass, but I see that athleticism and see a big play threat in the making.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite being in the playoffs, April’s NFL Draft will likely come quicker than most of us expect.\u00a0 This is my 1st attempt at a Mock Draft for the Patriots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":63257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[24015,24020,24012,24011,24013,24018,24022,24016,1944,44,24010,24019,24021,24017,24014],"class_list":["post-64299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news","tag-akeem-mesidor","tag-brett-thorson","tag-eli-stowers","tag-joshua-josephs","tag-keionte-scott","tag-lee-hunter","tag-linebacker-needs","tag-max-iheanacor","tag-mock-draft","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-nfl-draft-2026","tag-pat-coogan","tag-taylen-green","tag-trinidad-chambliss","tag-zakee-wheatley"],"yoast_head":"\nMORSE: 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